Assam Foreigners Tribunal member accused of demanding bribe for bail arrested

…He said he remembered allegations of efforts to influence tribunal proceedings in 2018-19. In this case, a member was subsequently suspended, he said, adding that similar accusations have been made from time to time. “ This recent case has raised the concern again, and if the allegations are true, the entire system needs to be scrutinised because FTs deal with citizenship and once a genuine Indian loses it, there are provisions for pushback ,” he said. According to social activist Kamal Chakraborty, though FTs are quasi-judicial institutions, their opinions on a person’s citizenship carry severe consequences. “These opinions decide whether a person is…

…“These opinions decide whether a person is Indian or an illegal migrant and we know many genuine Indians were declared foreigners by these FTs,” he said. Former FT member and lawyer Dharmananda Deb said that if Pegu actually tried to manipulate the judicial process, he must be handed out exemplary punishment . Senior advocate Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Chowdhury raised questions about the selection process of FT members. “The state government selects members and most of them are ordinary practising lawyers,” he said, suggesting…

…said that if Pegu actually tried to manipulate the judicial process, he must be handed out exemplary punishment. Senior advocate Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Chowdhury raised questions about the selection process of FT members. “ The state government selects members and most of them are ordinary practising lawyers ,” he said, suggesting that the government should opt to appoint retired judges to tribunals instead of young lawyers. Because of this lack of expertise and understanding of the law, the Gauhati High Court and even the…